Baseboard radiator



Feb. 26, 1952 J. w. TURNER BASEBOARD RADIATOR 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed Sept. 23, 1946 QOE IN V EN TOR.

mm mm B JOHN W.TURNER \QQQQ V DDb M V ATTORNEYS J. W. TURNER BASEBOARD RADIATOR Feb.26, 1952 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Sept. 25, 1946 INVENTOR.

JOHN W. TURN ER ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 26, 1952 ATENT OFFICE BASEBOARD RADIATOR John W. Turner, Detroit, Mich., assignor to United States Radiator Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of New York Application September 23, 1946, Serial No. 698,830

The present invention relates to a baseboard radiator.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a heating radiator adapted to be installed in place of the conventional baseboard found in houses and which will occupy substantially the same space as the conventional baseboard. It is a further object of th'e'present invention to provide an improved baseboard radiator capable 'of operating as a convector as well as a radiator.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a baseboard radiator characterized by the relative economy of material, the simplicity and economy of its manufacture, and its improved construction resulting in the formation of 8 Claims. (Cl. 257133) Other objects and features of the invention 1-3 combined with a convector, the section.

through the combined structure being taken at a position corresponding to the section line 4-4 through the radiator shown in Figure 2;

' Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section through a heating radiator of the type shown in Figures 1-3 combined with a convector and through the wall structure on which it is mounted, the section through the combined structure being taken at a point corresponding to the section line 5-5 through the radiator shown in Figure 2; and I Figure 6 is a fragmentary front elevation of a portion of the baseboard radiator mounted in place and showing cooperating structure adapted to cause the radiator to function as a tor.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 3, there is illustrated a baseboard. radiator structure COIIVGO- I comprising a front plate III, a rear plate I I, and

2 end plates I2. As best seen in Figure 3, the front plate I0 is bent to provide a central depressed portion I3 having extending along longitudinal edges thereof forwardly extending bent portions I4 and rearwardly extending flanges I5. The forwardly bent portion It and the flanges I5 define inwardly open channels I6. B fore the bending operation, the edges of the frontrlate Illmay have notches formed therein to provide tabs I! of the conformation shown in Figure 2.

The rear plate vII is provided with a plurality of reverse bends which provide alternately inwardly and outwardly facing channels 20 and 2|. The bottoms of the outwardly facing channels 2I are flat and of substantial extent. as indicated at 22 in Figure 2. Preferably the bottoms 23 of the inwardly opening channels 23 are also flat and of substantially the same area as the bottoms 22 of the outwardly facing channels 2I. At the ends, the plate II is provided with flat portions 24 which are coplanar with the bottoms 23 of the inwardly facing channels 20.

It will be appreciated that the specific sha es of the front and rear plates as just described are particularly well ada ted to be formed by bending sheet metal, since all of the bends formed in each of the plates are along parallel lines.

In order to assemble the front and rear plates Ill and I I, they are brought together so that the flances I5 which extend rearwardly from the front plate It! overlie the tops and bottoms of the inwardly facing channels 20. As best seen in Figure 3 and for simplicity of assembly. the rear plate I I may be of somewhat greater height than the front plate l0 after it has been bent as illustrated in this figure. Therefore the assembly operation results in the insertion of the tabs I1 into the inwardly facing channels 20 at top and bottom of the rear plate II. The rear edge of the flanges I5 is then welded as indicated at 25 to the rear plate II. The depth of the alternately inwardly and outwardly facing channels 20 and 2i of the rear plate II is such that the fiat bottoms 22 of the outwardly, facing channels engage the depressed central portion I 3 of the front plate.

10. These engaging surfaces are also welded together preferably by spot welding.

In Figure 3A there is illustrated a somewhat modified construction. In this figure the radiator is intended to function only as a radiator and not as a combined radiator and convector. Accord- I ingly, it is unnecessary to leave open the reartinuous welding as indicated at 25c. It will be appreciated that the structure illustrated in Figure 3 is intended to provide vertically extend ing channels 2i through which heated air flows by convection, as will subsequently be described in detail, whereas in the radiator illustrated in Figure 3A the similar vertically extending passages are closed at their tops and bottoms by the rearwardly extending flanges a.

It will be appreciated that the assembly of the I are relatively 'enlargedat either end thereof to correspond to the inwardly opening longitudinally extending channels is formed in the front plate It! 'and pipe openings are formed thereinas'indicated'at 21 for connection as by threading, welding, or the like to suitable conduit means for supplying heating fluid to the radiators. It will be appreciated that if the radiator is associated with a heating system of a type which does not require the plurality of openings thus provided, any not employed in the heating system may be closed by a suitable threaded plug. In addition, if desired, smaller openings (not shown) may be provided in the end plates 12 for connection of suitableair vents. I

v Attention is drawn to the fact that each of the plates has inwardly opening channels formed therein and each plate serves as a means for clos- :ing the sides of the channelsin the other plate so as to form longitudinal or transverse. passages therein. Therefore, in the completely assembled radiator the channels 16, as closed by the rear "plate H, define longitudinally extending passages 28. In like manner the inwardly opening channels formedin the rear plate II, as closed by the front plate Hi, provide transversely or vertically extending passages 23. It will further be apparent that each of the vertically extending passages 29 thus formed communicates freely at either end thereof with the longitudinally'extending passages 28. Thereforethe transversely or vertically extending passages 29 may be cons'idered as connected between-headers formed "by the longitudinally extending passages 28.

The present structure may conveniently be formedof relatively light gauge sheet me'tal, and the particular design resulting in the formation of both longitudinally and transversely extending bends in the complete device renders the assembled radiator quite rigid and very strong. It will be observed-that the radiator as illustrated and described has what may be called bilateral symmetry, which further simplifies its production. Due to the fact that the front end rear plates are welded together not only along their edges but also at a number of closely spaced points throughout the length of the radiator, the entire radiator is substantially stiffened against distortion under pressure and the design is such that even though light gauge metal is employed the radiator still has suflicient strength to withstand not only high normal working pressures but also substantially higher testing pressures to which it may be subjected. It will be appreciated that'the Welds between the edges of the front and rear plate are continuous, whereas the welds provided to secure the bottoms 22 of the outwardly facing channels 21 to the depressed portion I3 of the front plate are preferably separated spot welds.

It is contemplated that the structure just described shall be dimensioned such that it is not substantially larger than the conventional baseboard employed in housing and that it may be substituted therefor to provide an efficient heat distributing structure without occupying useful space within the enclosure being heated.

The radiator structure just described is adapt ed to operate as a radiator without further modification and may be mounted along the lower edge of the wall of an enclosure to be heated and connected to suitable conduits for supplying a heating medium thereto. However, the structure thus described is particularly well adapted to be mountedin such: a way as to perform the additional function of a heat convector, as will now be described.

Asbest seen inFigure 4, the radiator 30 may be secured to aback' plate 3! which has forwardly 'extending top and bottom flanges 32 and 33,rre

pectively. Preferably the height of the back plate 3| is sufiicientlygreater than the height of the radiator as so as to provide a substantial space between the'top of the radiator 30 and the top flange-32 and between the bottom ofthe radiator 30 and thebott'om flange 33. The radiator 30 may be secured to the back plate 3|, and for this purpose the flat bottoms 23 of the inwardly facingchannels 20- may be plug welded as .indicated at 34 or otherwise'secured to the fiat surface of the plate 3|. It will be appreciated that this assembly of the radiator 30 with a back plate 3| results in theclosing of'th'e outwardly open channels 2| to form vertically extending :passagesas indicated at 35 in Figure 4. With the assembly as illustrated in Figure 4, it will be appreciated that when heating medium is supplied to theradia'tor a circulation of 'air will be induced to enter the lower end of the passages 35 and to flow upwardly therethrough to be discharged through the space between the upper flange 32 :and thetop of the radiator.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, there is illustrated the complete'assembly of the radiator with the associated convector structure in a building. In this case there is illustrated generally at 4!! a building wall comprisingsheeting 4|, insulation, a vapor barrier 43 and lath and plaster M. 'In these figures the structure of the back plate 3I- is somewhat modified, the flanges 33 having their forward edges bent inwardly and pierced to provide'a'grill structure 45.

As a practical embodiment of the presentin- 'vention, it has been found that a radiator having aheight of about seven inches and an over all thickness measured outwardly from the back plate thereof of about aninch and a .half is suit-- able. The height'may be varied considerably,

andm'ay be twelve inches 'or more. It will be "appreciated of 'cours'e'that these dimensions may be modified as desired, but the specific dimensions just outlined have been given in order to emphasize the fact that the over-all dimensions 'of the complete radiator "either with or without its associated convector structure are not substantially different from the dimensions of a conventional baseboard, or at least are such that :thestructure may besubstituted for baseboards. Irrespective of the height of the structure, its thickness is such that it does not project into the room substantially beyond a point to which conplate Hi to provide tabs I! to close the upper and lower ends of the inwardly facing channels 20, it will be appreciated that where the radiator is to be used solely for radiation without employing its convector function, the edges of the front plate I need not be notched and may overlie the top and bottom edges of the rear plate ll so as to close the tops and bottoms of both the inwardly and outwardly facing channels formed therein.

The novel radiator disclosed herein may be employed with steam, vapor, or hot water as the heating medium and its method of connection to the heating system will vary in accordance with conventional plumbing practice. Thus for example, if the radiator is employed with hot water,

connection. of the hot water will normally be to, the lower opening in the end closure plate [2, and the return pipe will be connected to the upper opening therein. If employed with steam or vapor the connections will normally be reversed.

The specific material employed in the production of the improved radiators may of course be varied as desired, but preferably in all cases a relatively ductile sheet material capable of being welded is preferred. In any case, the complete radiator will be relatively light, particularly when considered from the viewpoint of the strength and stiffness orrigidity of the completed device.

While there is illustrated and described in considerable' detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be appreciated that this full disclosure has been made solely to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Heating structure comprising a flat vertically extending plate having narrow flanges extending outwardly from the top and bottom thereof, the bottom flange being adapted to rest on the floor of a space to be heated, an elongated radiator of a height less than the height of said plate and of a thickness substantially equal to the width of said flanges, said radiator being secured to the vertical portion of said plate and supported thereby spaced from the floor and from said flanges to provide for air circulation over the rear of said radiator, the rear surface of said radiator having vertical channels therein which are closed rearwardly by said plate to provide vertical passages for convective flow of air over the back of said radiator.

2. Heating structure comprising a flat vertically extending plate having narrowflanges extending" outwardly from the top and bottom thereof, the bottom flange being adapted to rest on the floor of a space to be heated, an elongated radiator of a height less than the height of said plate and of a thickness substantially equal to the width of said flanges, said radiator being secured to the vertical portion of said plate and supported thereby spaced from the floor and from said flanges to provide for air circulation over the rear of said radiator, and grills closing the space bet-ween the forward edge of said flange and the top of said radiator, and between the bottom edge of said radiator and the floor.

3. Heating structure comprising a flat vertically extending plate having narrow flanges extending outwardly from the top and bottom thereof, said bottom flange being adapted to rest upon the floor of a space to be heated, an elongated radiator of a height less than the height of said plate and of a thicknes substantially equal to the width of said flanges, said radiator being secured to the vertical portion of said plate and supported thereby spaced from the floor and from said flanges to provide for air circulation over the rear of said radiator, the outer edges of said flanges having vertically extending grill portions extending to close the spaces between the top and bottom edges of said radiator and said flanges.

4. Heating structure comprising a front plate of sheet metal having its top and bottom edge portions bent forwardly and then rearwardly to provide a central flat depressed portion extending from end to end thereof, a rear closure plate of sheet metal having a plurality of reverse bends providing alternate forwardly and rearwardly facing vertical channels, the top and bottom edges of said front plate being notched to conform to the shape of said rear plate and to overlie the forwardly facing channels, and being secured to the top and bottom edge of said rear plate, the bottoms of the rearwardly facing channels of said rear plate being secured to the rear surface of the flat central depressed portion of said front plate, the forwardly and then rearwardly bent edge portions of said front plate providing horizontally extending passages within the structure, end closure plates secured at their edges to the edges of said front plate and rear closure plate, pipe receiving openings in one of said end closure plates in at least partial alignment with said horizontally extending passages, and a backing plate of sheet metal having a flat portion secured to the bottom of the forwardly facing channels of said rear plate to close the rear side of the rearwardly facing channels, said backing plate having a forwardly extending flange along its top edge spaced from an overlying the structure comprised by said front and back plate the horizontally extending top and bottom passages providing for the flow of heating medium, the forwardly facing vertical channels formed in the rear closure plate providing for vertical flow of the heating medium between the top and bottom horizontal passages, the rearwardly facing vertical channesl provided intermediate the rear closure plate and the backing plate providing for convection flow of air therethrough.

5. Heating structurecomprising a front plate of sheet metal having its top and bottom edge portions bent forwardly and then rearwardly to provide a central flat depressed portion extending from end to end thereof, a rear closure plate of sheet metal having a plurality of reverse bends providing alternate forwardly and rearwardly facing vertical channels, the top and bottom edges of said front plate being notched to conform to the shape of said rear plate and to overclosure plate, pipe receiving openings in one of said end closure plates in at least partial alignment with said horizontally extending passages, and a backing plate of sheet metal having a fiat portion secured to the bottoms of the forwardly facing channels of said rear plate to close the 'rear side of the rearwardly facing channels, said backing plate having forwardly extending top and bottom flanges spaced vertically from the top and bottom of the structure comprised by said front and back plate the horizontally extending "top and bottom passages providing for the flow of heating medium, the forwardly facing vertical channels formed in'the rear closure plate providing for vertical flow of the heating medium between the top and bottom horizontal passages, the rearwardly facing vertical channels provided intermediate the rear closure plate and the backing plate providing for convection flow of air th'erethrough.

6. An elongated radiator formed of sheet metal and comprising a front sheet having a flat central portion extending the full length thereof, the top and bottom portions of said sheet being shaped along longitudinally extending lines to provide forwardly extending, rearwardly open channels at the top and bottom thereof, the top and bottom edges of said sheet extending rearwardly of the plane of said flat central portion, a rear sheet formed along vertically extending lines to provide vertical, alternately forwardly and rearwardly facing channels extending the full height thereof, the top and bottom edges of said front sheet being notched to interfit with the vertically extending forwardly facing channels in said rear sheet so as t'o'close the tops and bottoms of said last mentioned channels and to leave the rearwardly facing channels in said rear sheet open for convection flow of air and being secured in sealing relation to the 'topand bottom edges of i "said rear sheet to close the tops of the forwardly facing channels therein, the bottoms'of the rearwardly facing channels of the rear sheet being secured to the 'fiat central portion of said front sheet, and end closures for said radiator secured in sealing relation at the ends thereof to both said front and rear sheets, at least one of said end closures having openings therein aligned with the longitudinally extending passages formed by the rearwardly open channels in said front sheet.

7. An elongated radiator formed of sheet metal and comprising a front sheet having a flat central portion extending the full length thereof, the top and bottom portions of said sheet being shaped along longitudinally extending lines to provide forwardly extending, rearwardly open channels at the top and bottom thereof, the top and bottom edges of said sheet extending rearwardlyof the plane of said flat central portion, a rear sheet formed along vertically extending line to provide vertical, alternately forwardly rearwardly facing channels extending the full height thereof, the top and bottom edges of said front sheet being notched to interfit with the vertically extending forwardly facing channels aligned with the longitudinally extending pasin said rear sheet 'so as to close the tops and bottoms of said last mentioned channels and to leave the rearwardly facing channels in said rear sheet open-for convection flow of air and being secured in sealing relation to the top and bottom edges of said rear-sheet to close the tops of the forwardly facing channels therein, the bottoms of sages formed by the rearwardly open channels in said front sheet, and a backing plate secured to said rear sheet in position to close the open side of the rearwardly facing channels therein to form vertical air passages.

8. An elongated radiator formed of sheet metal and comprising a front sheet having a flat central. portion extending the full length thereof, the top and bottom portions of said sheet being shaped along longitudinally extending lines to provide forwardly extending, rearwardly open channels at the top and bottom thereof, the top and bottom edges of said sheet extending rearwardly of the plane of said fiat central portion, a rear sheet formed along vertically extending lines to provide vertical, alternately forwardly and rearwardly facing channels extending the full height thereof, the topand bottom edges of said toms of said last mentioned channels and to leave,

the rearwardly facing channels in said rea sheet open for convection flow of air and being secured in sealing relation to the top and bottom edges of said rear sheet to close the tops of the'forwardly facing channels therein, the bottoms of the rearwardly facing channels of the rear sheet bein secured to the flat central portion of said front sheet, and end closures for said radiator secured in sealing relation atthe ends'thereof to both said front and rear sheets, at least one of said end closures having openings therein aligned with the longitudinally extending passages forme'd'by the rearwardly open channels in said front sheet, and a backing plate secured to said rear sheet in position to close the open side of the rearwardly facing channels therein to form vertical air passages, said backing plate having top and bottom edge portions extending above and below said front and rear sheets, said portions extending forwardly in spaced overlying and underlying relation thereto to provide for air flowing by convection through said air passages.

JOHN W. TURNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record. in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

